Double hinged door



2,738,543 7 DOUBhE mono noon William J. Van Meter, Sante Fe, N M Application December 11, 1952, Serial No. 325,299

12 Claims. c1. 16-147) This invention relates to doors and other closures and to means for hingedly supporting the closures andto locking means and more particularly to mechanisms whereby a door may be opened from either side.

This inventionis particularly suitable for refrigerators, cabinets and other articles of furniture for which the most convenient location in a room may be against a wall which may make it inconvenient to have the door open at the side next to the wall. Circumstances may require that the furniture be moved to another location requiring the door to be opened from the other side. An object of the invention is to provide furniture and hinges therefor suitable for all such location's.

Also this invention is suitable for doors of buildings where arrangement of furniture or other conditions may require that the door be opened at one side or the other.

Animportant object of the invention is to provide improved hinges for this purpose having a minimum of parts of .a kind that will be very economical to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple combination-and arrangement of parts in thehinge structures of a door which willjfacilitate and make very easy the opening or closing of the door at either side of the door.: a r A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple control mechanism to prevent the .doorfrom being. opened at one side when it is open at the other side.

1A. further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which will not cause resistance to the closing andl opening of the door.

Additional objects of the invention are to effect simplicity and efficiency in such locking mechanism and to provide an extremely simple mechanism of this kind which is easy; durable, and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and install.

Still other objects of the invention will appear'as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some of,

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with a door assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame, comprising upper and lower hinge a United States Patent M brackets secured to each side edge of the door frame to which is hinged an upright hinge leaf bar disposable ilatagainst said frame at each side of the door frame for pivotal movement on a vertical axis, each end part of each bar having a bore therethrough, said door being disposablein a position substantially fiat against said 2,738,543 I Patented Mar. 20, 1956 Other objects are to provide hinging and latching bars adapted for a very great number of door shapes and sizes, and to provide parts interchangeable for right or left parts for use on opposite sides of the door opening. The door itself contains the releasing means and handles. The locating and locking pins are extremely simple.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, several of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the assembly parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing one form of holding and releasing means;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view holding means; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views partly in elevation showing additional forms of releasing means.

showing another form of .My invention is shown embodied in an assembly for assemblyincludes hinge leaf brackets 16 secured to the outer side edge of each side ofthe door frame remote from the door opening 18 and having upper and lower axially vertically alined hinge cars 17. An upright hinge leaf bar 20 at each side of the door frame has hinge parts 22 pivotally mounted on a hinge pin or spindle 24 on the associated bracket for pivotal movement on said spindle on a vertical axis, said leaf bar being disposable flat against said fiat face 14 and pivotally movable to positions remote therefrom.

A boss or lug 26 adjacent to each hinge part is provided on the front face of the bar when flat against the door frame, the boss having a bore or socket 28 therethrough. The door 10 is disposable in a position flat against said bosses and has locating pins or bolts 30 mounted fast thereon disposable in said sockets 28 to locate the door relative to the hinge bars. Holding means, laterto be described, are provided for holding said pins 30 in the sockets and said door in said position; and releasing means are provided for releasing said pins 30 from the sockets 28 and the door from said position at one side of the door, while the pins 30 at the other side of the door are held in the sockets 28 to cause the leaf bar to act as a hinge member and allow the door to open.

A coil spring 32 coiled around a hinge spindle 24 at each side of the door and anchored at its opposite ends ,on the respective hinge leaves, yieldably holds the leaf bars on said lugs 26. 1

The marginal parts of the inner face of the door are provided with a gasket 34 in-sealing engagement with the front face of the door frame.

.Said holding andreleasing means asv shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will now'be described. A keeper bracket 36 mounted on the mid-part of each leaf 20 and projecting into the door through a cutout 38 in the door has an overhanging part 40 extended toward the other side of the door to provide an innerjface42 facing the bar and dis posed substantially parallel to the plane of the door.

A fulcrum pin 44 mounted in the door parallel to the bar between said overhanging part and the outer face of the door carries a bellcrank latch 46 fulcrumed at its elbow part on said pin 44 and having a motive arm 48 disposed toward the other side of the door and an active arm 50 substantially perpendicular to the bar 20 having a hook 52 engaging said inner face 42 of the overhanging part. A spring 54 compressed between the motive arm 48 and the front wall 56 of the door holds the hook on said face.

An actuating lever 58 fulcrumed on said fulcrum pin is formed with a handle 60 curved around the side edge of the door and extended toward the center of the door a distance greater than the distance of said fulcrum pin 44 from the side edge of the door. The fulcrum end of the lever 58- is extended to form an; active arm 62 engaging the front face of the free; end of said motive arm 48 of the bellcrank, whereby when the free end of a handle is pulled frontwardly, the associated hook is pulled from the overhanging part 40 and the door is released from engagement with the bosses 26 and the pins 30 are released from the bores 28, leaving the pins 30 at the opposite side of the door still held in the bores, causing the bar at said opposite side to act as a hinge member to support the door while the door is being opened.

Brackets 64 in the door carry a control bar 66" frictionally slidable inthe brackets transverse to the door between the active arms. 50' off said latches arid engageable by said active arms, and of such a length thatonly one hook 52 may leave" the overhanging part at a time, thus to prevent both sides of the door from being released atv the same: time;

Another form: of holding'means as showntin Fig. 3' comprises a bushing 70disposed. in the bore 28a of the boss 26a and provided with an end' fiange'72 inset in the boss and longitudinal fingers74. in the bore intermediately bent toward the axis of the bore to form humps 76 forming a contraction in the bushing. A ball 78 on theend of the pin 30a mountedsontheldooris adaptedto pass'through said contraction andto: be" engaged by the'fingers 74 to hold the ball in thebore to hold the door against the bosses 26a.

Thereleasing means: of.Fig..4-isz' adapted for use with the holding means'ofTFig'..-3 and includes a plate 80 on the inner wall. of the door adjacent. to thebar 20' having a guide aperture perpendicular to the plane of the door and receiving: a. bolt: 82 slidable in said aperture and engaging the leaf barr20and.havingia flat head'84' remote from.the bar. A fulcrum pinz44nlmountedin the door near said bolt transverse'tothe axis'of the bolt and parallel to. the bar' carries a cam lever 58a fulcrumed on the endiof the lever 5821. having a cam part 88 of greater radius near the outer edge of thefsdoor; whereby'when the free end. of a? handle 60a is'pulled frontward, said part 88- cngages the flat head 84 of the adjacent bolt and causes"- suchbolt to push against the leafbar and: push the adjacent sideof the doorffl'om' the lugsand draw the" pinsafromthe boreszsa leavinglthe pins of the opposite side of the door still held in the associated bores; causingthe leaf bar at saidopp'osite side to'a'ct' as-a hinge member to support the door while" the door is being:

opened.

In Fig. 5 another form'of the releasing means is shown for use with bore 28a, bushing170, longitudinal fingers 74, and ball 78as in Fig. 3." The releasing meansof Fig. 5 comprises .a fulcrum pin 44b in the door carryingv a cam. lever 58bfulcrumedfi onsaid fulcrum pin and having acam. part engageablewiththe intermediate part oftthe-leaf" bar. Saidilever'. forms-a--handle b curved around ethe; side :edge of the-door: and :disposed in front offthe; door; and extending-a distancegrcater -than the.dis-

tancerof saidxfulcrumpin to'the side edge of the door,

the fulcrum end '=0f th'e camhaving'a cam'pa'rt 88b ofgreater'radius'near the outer edgeofth'e dotir'jwhereby' whenthe free end of a: handle- 60b 'ispulled frontward; said-cam, part '88b" engagesfihe' flat face of' the adjacent leaf bar 20 andcauses such'cam partto'push theadjacent side of the.doorfrom the lugsandv draw the pinfrorn the bore, leavingthe pins 30a oftheopposite side-of the door still held in the bores, causing the bar 20 at said opposite side to act as. a hinge member to support the door while the door is being opened.

Each cam lever 58a or 58b is provided with an inner arm 90 extending in a direction inward from the fulcrum pin and engaged by a spring 92 compressed between the free end of the inner arm and the front wall of the door for yieldably holding the cam lever in inactive position.

The control bar 66 of Fig. 2 may also be used with the releasing means of- Figs. 4 and 5 and is engageable with projections 94 on the levers 58a of Fig. 4 or 58b of Fig. 5, the bar" being of such a length that only one lever 58a or 585 may be actuated to releasing position at the same time.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a flat front face at each side edge of the door opening, the combination of an upright hinge leaf bar hinged to the frame at the outer side edge; of said face and disposable flat against said front face-and spaced from the inner side edgeof said flat face; each: end part of each bar having a bore therethrough; said' door being disposable in a position substantially flat against saidbars at said bores and havingpins' mounted thereon disposable in said bores and disengage= able from the bores' by movement of the door indooropening' direction; a gasket engageable between and with said door and said front face between said'bars-and-inner edges and holding means for holding said pins iir'the' bores" and-said door'in said position. p

2. In an assembly for movably mounting and=holding a door on a door frame having a Hat front face at each side edge o'f-the door opening, the combination'of' assub stantially' upright leaf hinge bar hinged at. each outer side edge of said front flat face and disposable flat against saidfront' face and spaced from the inner side'edge of said'flat' face; eachend' part of each bar havihg'a' front- Wardly faced flat'contact part; a'do'or having co'ritactpa'rts engageable against'said flat contact parts; the interengage-' able contact parts being respectively provided withibores" and pins disposable in said bores; a gasket engageable'between and with said door and said front face between saidbars and inner edges and releasable holding means'at each side of the door for holding said pins in ther'bor'es; the contacting faces of said'contact parts being sufficiently extended to prevent pivotal action between the'bai' ah door whenthe pins are held in the bores;

3. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a'door frame hav'ingia flat front face-at each side edge-of the door opening, the combination of a substantially uprightleaf hinge bar hinged at the o'uten side'edgeofsaid flat front face and disposable fiat agains't said face and spaced from the inner sideedge of. said-fiat face; each end part of each bar having a bore therethrou'gh having a-fronbflat contact face surrounding the bo'rera door disposable against the contact faces and havin'gpins disposablein said bores; a'gasket engageable betweenand with'said 'doorandsaid front face between said barsiahd inneredgesand releasable holding means at each side-of the doorforholdingrsaid pins in thebores andsaid door in contact 'with said contact faces; said contact faces being sufiicientlyfiextended to prevent pivotal movement between" the 'bar an'd doorwhen the pin is held in the borei.

4'. In-an assembly for movably mountingiand'holdingl a'door on-a= door frame having a' flat'front face ateach side' edge' of'the door opening,'-the combination of an upright hinge leaf' bar hin'ged'to-the frame atthe' outer side edg'e of'said face and disposable fiat against said-front face; 'each' end-part of each bar having a-b'osshavin'g a flat front -face anda boretherethrough; saiddoc'i'f beih dispos'able a position substantially flat against enti front face said bosses and having pins "mounted-theidisposable insaid boresand' disen'g'ageablefroniitheby movementofthenoor in' door-opening: direction; a; gasket engageable between 'and'withsaiddo'or aifdisaid" front face between 'said'bars and inner edges and"holdin g" i means for holding said pins in the bores and said door in said position against the bosses.

5. An assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a flat front face at each side of the door opening, the combination of a substantially upright leaf hinge bar hinged at the outer side edge of said flat front face and disposable flat against said face and spaced from the inner side edge of said flat face and having frontwardly faced contact parts; said door being disposable against the contact parts of said bars; a gasket engageable between and with said door and front face between said bars and inner side edges, and releasable holding means for holding said bars against the doors.

6. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a fiat front face, the combination of an upright hinge leaf bar hinged to the side of the frame at theouter side edge of said face and disposable flat against the front face and spaced from the inner edge of side edge of the side of the frame; each end part of each bar having a boss having a flat front face and a bore therethrough; said door being disposable in a position substantially fiat against said bosses and having pins mounted thereon disposable in said bores and disengageable from the bores by movement of the door in dooropening direction; a gasket on the door engaging the frame between the bar and the inner side edge of the side of the frame; and holding means for holding said pins in the bores and said door in said position.

7. An assembly as in claim 6 comprising releasing means for releasing said pin from the bores and the door from said position at the side of the door, while the pins at the other side of the door are held in the bore to cause the bar to act as a hinge member and allow the door to open; and means operated by each holding means when in non-holding position to hold the other holding means in holding position.

8. An assembly as in claim 7 wherein said holding means is yieldable for yieldably holding said pins in said bores and releasing said pins as a consequence of opening the door at the side adjacent to the pins being released; and door carried handle means operable to engage said leaf bar and push the door from theleaf bar.

9. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a substantially flat front face, the combination of an axially upright hinge member pivoted to the frame at the outer side edges of said face remote from the inner edges of the sides of the frame; each member having a part having a front face and a socket through its said front face; said door being disposable in a position adjacent to the front face of said parts and having bolts mounted thereon disposable to fit in said sockets and disengageable from the sockets by movement of the door in door-opening direction; a gasket engageable between and with said door and said front face between said bars and inner edges and releasable holding means for holding said door in said position and said bolts in the socket and releasing door from said position and said bolts from the sockets at a side of the door, while the bolts at the other side of the door are held in the sockets to cause the member to rotate and allow the door to open.

10. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a substantially flat front face, the combination of an axially upright hinge member hinged to the frame at the outer side edges of said face remote from the inner edges of the sides of the frame; each member having a part having a flat front face and a socket through its said front face; means for yieldably holding each member with its front face frontward; said door being disposable in a position against said parts and having bolts mounted thereon disposable to fit in said sockets and disengageable from the sockets by movement of the door in door-opening direction; a gasket engaging the door and said front face of the frame between said inner edge and the hinge members; and releasable holding means for holding said door in said position and the bolts in the sockets and adapted for releasing the door from said position and said bolts from the sockets at one side of the door, while the bolts at the other side of the door are held in the sockets to cause the member to rotate and allow the door to open.

11. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a substantially flat front face, the combination of axially upright hinge members hinged to the frame at the respective outer side edges of said face remote from the inner edges of the sides of the frame; each member having a portion having a fiat front face substantially parallel to said flat front face, and a socket through said front face of said portion; means for yieldably holding each member with its said front face frontward; said door carrying parts disposable in a position against said front faces of said portions and having bolts mounted thereon disposable to fit in said sockets and disengageable from the sockets by movement of the door in door-opening direction; a gasket engaging the door and said front face of the frame between said inner edge and the hinge member when the door is closed; and releasable holding means for holding said bolts in the sockets and said door in said position and for releasing the bolts from the sockets and the door from said position at one side of the door, while the bolts at the other side of the door are held in the sockets to cause the hinge memher to rotate when the door opens.

12. In an assembly for movably mounting and holding a door on a door frame having a substantially flat front face, the combination of axially upright hinge members hinged to the frame at the respective outer side edges of said face remote from the inner edges of the sides of the frame; each member having a portion having a socket therethrough substantially axially perpendicular to the plane of said flat front face; means for yieldably holding each member with its said front face frontward; said door having bolts mounted thereon disposable to fit in said sockets and disengageable from the sockets by movement of the door in door-opening direction; a gasket engaging the door and said front face of the frame between said inner edge and the hinge members when the door is closed; and releasable holding means for holding said bolts in the sockets and said door in closed position'and for releasing the bolts from the sockets and the door from said position at one side of the door, while the bolts at the other side of the door are held in the sockets to cause the member to rotate when the door opens.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,226 Hamilton Dec. 25, 1888 1,813,145 Cavicchioli July 7, 1931 2,079,608 Erickson May 11, 1937 2,185,161 Tinnerman Dec. 26, 1939 2,261,147 Dow -s Nov. 4, 1941 2,275,128 Campbell Mar. 3, 1942 2,349,486 Crossman May 23, 1944 2,357,397 Fuller Sept. 5, 1944 

